Lynbrook resident Robert G. Becker dies

Robert G. Becker died in his home on Sept. 30 after a long illness. He was 87. He was surrounded by his wife and family. Becker was the uncle of Village Trustee Hilary Becker and former Nassau County Legislator Francis X. Becker.

He was born Oct. 27, 1928 to Hon. Frank J. Becker and Claire Ferris Becker, the youngest of three children. He attended Lynbrook High School and served in the United States Army stationed in Germany at the end of WW II. He graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Cortland. He was a physical education teacher and wrestling coach in Hamburg, NY.

When his father was elected to the New York State Assembly, he returned home to take over management of the family insurance business in Lynbrook, the village he loved. His commitment to public service is evidenced by his participation in many good works. He founded the Lynbrook Titans Wrestling program; was a 50-year member of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, and served on its board of directors and was a past president of the organization; he was instrumental in founding and maintaining the Nathan Hale Senior Citizen housing project in, and spearheaded its rebuilding after a devastating fire in 2002; he was past commander of the Lynbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars; the executive leader of the Lynbrook Republican Club, and he was a lector at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. 

“Uncle Bob was a great man who served his God, country, family, and community with great love and passion,” said his nephew, Hilary Becker. “I will always be grateful for all that he did for me. He will be missed by many.”

In a 2011 Herald story about Becker, “Hale hails a hero,” Nathan Hale Senior Village celebrated the then 83-year-old Becker’s 40 years of service to the senior residents of the community. The residence’s newly completed pavilion on Doxsey Place has was named after Becker.

In 1972, at the urging of his father, U.S. Rep. Frank J. Becker, then Mayor Francis X. Becker developed the not-for- profit Nathan Hale facility so that local seniors would not be driven out of Lynbrook by rising housing costs. The project was funded with federal money and grants, so it did not increase residents’ taxes.

“My father wanted a place [where] Lynbrook’s seniors could spend their golden years in the community they loved, and where surroundings were familiar, and friends and family were close by,” said former Nassau County Legislator Francis X. Becker Jr. When the 126-unit facility was completed, the mayor asked his brother, Bob, to take over its stewardship, and he assumed the title of president of the Board of Directors — a position he held for more than 40 years.

“Bob Becker is a man most noted for his faith and love for God,” said Francis X. Becker, Hilary’s brother and Bob’s nephew. “He found great satisfaction in living his faith while helping and working with Lynbrook’s seniors.”

Becker’s oldest sibling, Hon. Francis X. Becker, predeceased him on May 8. His older sister, Betty Ann Myers, predeceased him on May 27.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margaret E. (nee Howell). He as the loving father of Dana J. Becker of Lynbrook, Robert Gregory Becker, Jr. of Bloomingdale, Ohio, Elizabeth (Becker) Gaudet (Jerry L. Gaudet, Lt. Col. USAF) of Lynbrook; Christopher J. Becker Sr. (Cara J.)of Housatonic, MA, Matthew J. Becker, Sr. (Donna R.) of Lynbrook, Kathleen (Becker) Whitmer (Jeffrey A.) of San Jose, CA., and Karen (Becker) Hynes (John E.) of Malverne.

He was the cherished grandfather of Danielle J. Gaudet, Sarah M. Gaudet, Isabelle M. Gaudet, Luke Z. Gaudet, Christopher J. Becker, Jr., Liam R. Becker, Caroline P. Becker, Madison N. Becker, Juliana M. Becker, Isabella R. Becker, Matthew J. Becker, Jr., Genevieve C. Whitmer, Dougray J. Whitmer, Luke T. Hynes, and Aidan J. Hynes.

He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.   

Viewing was held at Flinch & Bruns in Lynbrook on Sunday and Monday. A Mass was conducted at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Lynbrook on Tuesday.

Memorial contributions in Becker's name may be made to the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County at www.cpnassau.org